Inspiration Translation: Store Decor to Home Decor

A friend of mine has a common dilemma: She's got a room that she'd love to paint but her landlord won't pay for a paint job, she can't afford to hire painters and she hates painting. The room also lacks a focal point to pull it together. When I saw this photo of the inside of The General Store over on Sunset, I knew I had both her problems licked. And it was only going to take a few brushstrokes.

The first thing that caught my eye was that big swatch of paint. While the notion of just painting one wall (accent wall) in a room is nothing new, painting a shape — like this isosceles triangle — is faster, cheaper and much more visually arresting. In my friend's living room, with its peaked ceiling and wooden rafters, this shape happens to perfectly echo the contours of the room; it would also work well in the average rental unit where the top point of the triangle would draw the eye up, creating the illusion of height.

Painted on one of the shorter walls in a color she's been mulling over, this would not only add a bold burst of color to my friend's otherwise white room, it would also draw the eye down the long narrow room, warming it up and making the space — which feels a little cold — less cave-like. A few narrow ledges, arranged like the ones here (IKEA has great ones that are easily paintable), would hold her ever increasing collection of photos. It would also take care of that focal point issue. Looking to add a little color and some interest to your space? This is an easy way to try on a bold splash of color without a big commitment in money or time. Give it a whirl and see how it works for you.